Funeral services for Merle B. Anderson, 90, of Cherokee, formerly of Aurelia, will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee with Pastor Kathy Wicks officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia. Visitation will be Friday from 2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.
Merle Buford Anderson was born on August 14, 1922, the son of Edwin and Esther (Bjork) Anderson at Marcus, IA. He attended school and graduated from Quimby High School in 1940. On December 27, 1942 Merle was united in marriage to Ruth E. Busser at his parents’ farm near Maryhill. Merle worked at the elevator in Cherokee, and then ran the Quimby elevator for a short time. They moved to Wieston, IA, where Merle worked for the elevator. They then moved to Larrabee where he managed the elevator for twelve years and also served as mayor. In 1958 they moved to Aurelia where Merle managed the elevator until his retirement. He served on the board for several regional co-ops, including Big 4 and Land O Lakes, having served as secretary for many years.
Merle was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he served on various boards and the building committee. He was also a member of the Aurelia City Council, Aurelia Community School board, past president of Kiwanis Club, Aurelia Golf Club board, and on the board of directors for Heritage Bank. Merle enjoyed playing cards, golfing, sports, and they enjoyed 30 winters in Arizona. Merle was a loving husband and father. He and Ruth would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary later this month.
Merle died Tuesday, December 4, 2012, at his home at The Gardens in Cherokee where they have lived since August of 2009.
Preceding Merle in death were his parents, two brothers, Erwin Anderson and Dale Anderson, two brothers-in-law, Richard Busser and Donald Busser, and one sister-in-law, Marian McDevitt.
Survivors include his wife Ruth of Cherokee, three children; Douglas and his wife Lizabeth Anderson of Bellevue, WA, Janice and her husband James Bouquet of Wabasha, MN, and Mark Anderson and Jennifer Herft of Los Angles, CA, and six grandchildren; Jacqueline and husband Jeff Wrey, Jill and husband Andrew Brown, Bradley and wife Heather Anderson, Michael and wife Amy Anderson, Erik Anderson, and Ian Anderson. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren; Anne Lovett, Brittainy Lovett, McKinley Lovett, Brady Anderson, Courtney Anderson, Logan Anderson, Laura Anderson, Chloe Brown and Max Brown, one sister-in-law, Ruth Anderson of Marcus, IA, one brother-in-law, James and his wife Doreen Busser of Stockton, CA, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.